Outliers: The Story of Success

As a person who likes to analyze and dissect statistical patterns and anomalies, I found this book to be right up my alley. Don't be scared away, though, because Outliers is not a “numbers” book; rather, Gladwell points out some fascinating correlations and explanations that are worth your while to read and ponder.

“Everything we have learned in Outliers says that success follows a predictable course. It is not the brightest who succeed. [...] Nor is success simply the sum of the decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf. It is, rather, a gift. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities - and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them. For hockey and soccer players born in January, it's a better shot at making the all-star team. For the Beatles, it was Hamburg. For Bill Gates, the lucky break was being born at the right time and getting the gift of a computer terminal in junior high.” (Gladwell, 2008, 267).

I particularly enjoyed the chapters that focused on hard work (10,000 hours is the magic number), Asian cultures that play a negative factor in a number of fatal airplane crashes while also excelling in mathematics, the idea of being “good” vs. “best”, and the ill-effects of summer vacation.

Less interesting to me were the chapters about the rise of Joe Flom and the people of Harlan, Kentucky - though Gladwell makes valid points, so these are not wasted pages or words.

Definitely one of the better non-fiction (non-biographical) books I have read.